Quirky facts you didn't know about Mass. towns

The geographic center of Massachusetts is Rutland in Worcester County.

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With 617,594 residents as of the 2010 census, it's probably no surprise that Boston is the Mass. city with the largest population ...

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But did you know that North Adams -- tucked way out in the Berkshires -- has the smallest population with 13,708 (as of 2010).

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The town with the largest population is Framingham with 68,318 (as of 2010)... but not for long. Residents there voted to become a city and will elect their first mayor on Nov. 7.

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With just 75 residents, Gosnold is the town with the smallest population (as of 2010).

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Massachusetts' oldest town is Plymouth, incorporated in 1620.

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The state's newest town is East Brookfield, which was incorporated exactly 300 years after Plymouth in 1920.

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The town with the biggest area is Plymouth at a whopping 97.57 square miles.

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The biggest city is Taunton, which eats up 47.29 square miles of the Bay State.

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Smallest town is Nahant at just 1.04 square miles.

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The itty bitty city? Chelsea at a mere 1.86 square miles.

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The newest city is Framingham, where voters passed a ballot measure to become a city in April 2017.

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The 2nd youngest city is Gardner, which was incorporated in 1923.

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Massachusetts' oldest city is Boston, which was incorporated in 1820.

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Do the "islands" of Brookline and Cohasset leave you scratching your head? You're not alone. So what's the deal?

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Norfolk County was originally organized in 1793 from parts of southern Suffolk County and the towns of Brookline, Cohasset, Hingham and Hull, as well as most of the area and towns that make up the Norfolk County we know today.

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In 1803 the towns of Hingham and Hull opted out of Norfolk and became part of Plymouth County -- leaving Cohasset cut off.

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In 1795, Brookline petitioned the Supreme Judicial Court to "change its allegiance" back to Suffolk County, according to the Secretary of State's office. The court ignored the petition.

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Since then, Brookline's neighbors, including Brighton and West Roxbury, were annexed by Boston, leaving Brookline the odd man out.

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Many neighborhoods or areas cross local borders in one way or another but Chestnut Hill by far takes the cake.

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So where is Chestnut Hill, exactly? It's complicated. It's in Boston, Newton and Brookline, which also places it in three counties: Suffolk, Middlesex and Norfolk.

The geographic center of Massachusetts is Rutland in Worcester County.

With 617,594 residents as of the 2010 census, it's probably no surprise that Boston is the Mass. city with the largest population ...

But did you know that North Adams -- tucked way out in the Berkshires -- has the smallest population with 13,708 (as of 2010).

The town with the largest population is Framingham with 68,318 (as of 2010)... but not for long. Residents there voted to become a city and will elect their first mayor on Nov. 7.

With just 75 residents, Gosnold is the town with the smallest population (as of 2010).

Massachusetts' oldest town is Plymouth, incorporated in 1620.

The state's newest town is East Brookfield, which was incorporated exactly 300 years after Plymouth in 1920.

The town with the biggest area is Plymouth at a whopping 97.57 square miles.

The biggest city is Taunton, which eats up 47.29 square miles of the Bay State.

Smallest town is Nahant at just 1.04 square miles.

The itty bitty city? Chelsea at a mere 1.86 square miles.

The newest city is Framingham, where voters passed a ballot measure to become a city in April 2017.

The 2nd youngest city is Gardner, which was incorporated in 1923.

Massachusetts' oldest city is Boston, which was incorporated in 1820.

Do the "islands" of Brookline and Cohasset leave you scratching your head? You're not alone. So what's the deal?

Norfolk County was originally organized in 1793 from parts of southern Suffolk County and the towns of Brookline, Cohasset, Hingham and Hull, as well as most of the area and towns that make up the Norfolk County we know today.

In 1803 the towns of Hingham and Hull opted out of Norfolk and became part of Plymouth County -- leaving Cohasset cut off.

In 1795, Brookline petitioned the Supreme Judicial Court to "change its allegiance" back to Suffolk County, according to the Secretary of State's office. The court ignored the petition.

Since then, Brookline's neighbors, including Brighton and West Roxbury, were annexed by Boston, leaving Brookline the odd man out.

Many neighborhoods or areas cross local borders in one way or another but Chestnut Hill by far takes the cake.

So where is Chestnut Hill, exactly? It's complicated. It's in Boston, Newton and Brookline, which also places it in three counties: Suffolk, Middlesex and Norfolk.

The geographic center of Massachusetts is Rutland in Worcester County.

With 617,594 residents as of the 2010 census, it's probably no surprise that Boston is the Mass. city with the largest population ...

But did you know that North Adams -- tucked way out in the Berkshires -- has the smallest population with 13,708 (as of 2010).

The town with the largest population is Framingham with 68,318 (as of 2010)... but not for long. Residents there voted to become a city and will elect their first mayor on Nov. 7.

With just 75 residents, Gosnold is the town with the smallest population (as of 2010).

Massachusetts' oldest town is Plymouth, incorporated in 1620.

The state's newest town is East Brookfield, which was incorporated exactly 300 years after Plymouth in 1920.

The town with the biggest area is Plymouth at a whopping 97.57 square miles.

The biggest city is Taunton, which eats up 47.29 square miles of the Bay State.

Smallest town is Nahant at just 1.04 square miles.

The itty bitty city? Chelsea at a mere 1.86 square miles.

The newest city is Framingham, where voters passed a ballot measure to become a city in April 2017.

The 2nd youngest city is Gardner, which was incorporated in 1923.

Massachusetts' oldest city is Boston, which was incorporated in 1820.

Do the "islands" of Brookline and Cohasset leave you scratching your head? You're not alone. So what's the deal?

Norfolk County was originally organized in 1793 from parts of southern Suffolk County and the towns of Brookline, Cohasset, Hingham and Hull, as well as most of the area and towns that make up the Norfolk County we know today.

In 1803 the towns of Hingham and Hull opted out of Norfolk and became part of Plymouth County -- leaving Cohasset cut off.

In 1795, Brookline petitioned the Supreme Judicial Court to "change its allegiance" back to Suffolk County, according to the Secretary of State's office. The court ignored the petition.

Since then, Brookline's neighbors, including Brighton and West Roxbury, were annexed by Boston, leaving Brookline the odd man out.

Many neighborhoods or areas cross local borders in one way or another but Chestnut Hill by far takes the cake.

So where is Chestnut Hill, exactly? It's complicated. It's in Boston, Newton and Brookline, which also places it in three counties: Suffolk, Middlesex and Norfolk.